Norway will stay an open society insists defiant PM

Published on Wednesday 27 July 2011 18:54

AN INDEPENDENT commission has been launched to investigate the twin terror attacks in Norway, in which at least 76 people died.

A defiant prime minister Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement after promising that Norway would build an even "more open, a more tolerant society than what we had before", in the wake of the massacre.

Anders Breivik, who has been charged with terrorist offences, had revealed he hoped to halt the spread of Islam in a manifesto sent out before he went on the rampage.

It indicated he targeted the Labour Party youth camp, on the small island of Utya, as revenge for the Norwegian government's open attitude to immigration.

However, Mr Stoltenberg said his country would "not be intimidated or threatened" and would fight back with "more democracy".

"It's absolutely possible to have an open, democratic, inclusive society, and at the same time have security measures and not be naive," he said.

He underlined his commitment to openness, defending freedom of thought even if it includes extremist views such as those held by Breivik, 32, who confessed to setting off a bomb at Norway's government headquarters killing eight in Oslo, and shooting 68 dead on Utya hours later, but denied that he had committed a crime.

Mr Stoltenberg said: "We have to be very clear to distinguish between extreme views, opinions - that's completely legal, legitimate to have.

"What is not legitimate is to try to implement those extreme views by using violence.

"I think what we have seen is that there is going to be one Norway before and one Norway after 22 July.

"But I hope and also believe that the Norway we will see after will be more open, a more tolerant society than what we had before."

So far there has been little criticism of the police response to the shootings from within Norway - a country with a history of being highly supportive of its emergency services.

However, that could change, as media helicopters were filming from the air and private boats were trying to rescue youngsters, long before armed anti-terrorist police arrived - an hour after the shooting had started.

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It emerged later that a police boat had broken down after too many officers boarded it.

Mr Stoltenberg said the "July 22 Commission" would look at all areas surrounding the tragedy.

"It's important to clarify all aspects of the attacks to learn lessons from what has occurred," he said.

"This is a national tragedy, an attack on the nation."

The leader of Norway's Delta Force defended the special operations team, saying the breakdown did not cause a significant delay as they attempted to reach the island.

However, although Utya is just 25 miles from the Norwegian capital, it took police 90 minutes to get to the scene.

Marius Arnesen, a cameraman for broadcaster NRK, who filmed the massacre, said he arrived between 6pm and 6:10pm, while police say they got to the island at 6:25pm.

Breivik allegedly used the bomb in Oslo as a distraction from the massacre in Utoya, and police were already grappling with the damage inflicted to the city centre government quarter when word of the shooting came.

They then drove there rather than going by helicopter because the crew of the sole plane available to them was on holiday.

Police chief Anders Snortheimsmoen said when the first boat they used broke down, the team immediately jumped into another one.

He said they reached the harbour at the same time as local police and the breakdown caused no additional delay.

When they arrived officers nearly shot Breivik because they feared he might be wearing an explosive belt.

Mr Snortheimsmoen said the decision not to do so was made by a "very narrow margin".Squad leader Haavard Gaasbakk said when they reached Breivik he surrendered readily.

Police yelled at the gunman when they drew near and he laid down his weapon and held his hands high over his head.

"When we got closer to the place where there's shooting we started to use our voices, yelling 'armed police' to draw the attention to us," Mr Gaasbakk said.

"We come to a forested area and the suspect stands there right in front of us with his hands high above his head."

Police reportedly knew Breivik's identity before they reached the island, having traced him through a rental car company which owned the van he had planted the Oslo bomb in.

Dag Andre Johansen, of Avis car rental company, said he had rented two vehicles, including a Volkswagen Crafter van.